Macronutrient intake of 1 to 18 year old German children and adolescents

In a sample of 627 healthy German children and adolescents between the age of 1 and 18 years the intake of macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates) and their specific subgroups (animal protein, saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), cholesterol, added sugars, dietary fiber) were assessed from 3d weighed diet records. The medians of the nutrient intake (% of energy) were 13% protein (2/3 animal), 38% fat, 49% carbohydrates, 17% SFA, 16% MUFA, 5% PUFA, 12% added sugars and (per MJ) 34 mg cholesterol, 1.9 g dietary fiber. The macronutrient patterns were almost uniform across the age and sex groups with the exception of lower fat, PUFA, and sugar intakes in the 1 year olds. The findings were almost in accordance with former and current dietary surveys in Germany and neighboring countries. Several findings, particularly the high SFA and low fiber intake, differed considerably from the diet for the prevention of the chronic diseases related to nutrition in western societies which is recommended for this age range. Based on the findings of this study, a preventive dietary concept for German children and adolescents was proposed.